Charles Esser appointed Secretary General of E.DSO

Charles Esser will replace Roberto Zangrandi as the new secretary general of the E.DSO distribution operator association.

Esser joins E.DSO from the Council of European Energy Regulators (CEER), where he has served as secretary general since 2019 and prior to that as high level administrator.

Prior to joining CEER he acted as an independent consultant, energy market analyst and journalist, working for the International Energy Agency among others.

He holds degrees from the College of Wooster in Wooster, Ohio and the Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies and began his career as an energy analyst with consulting firm Z Inc and the US Energy Information Administration.

“I am delighted to welcome Charles who will bring to E.DSO his relevant experience in the energy sector and his ability to leverage the commitment of all members for the energy transition in Europe,” said Christian Buchel, Chair of E.DSO, of the appointment.

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Esser said he was “pleased and honoured” to lead E.DSO “following in the impressive footsteps of Mr Zangrandi. I look forward to starting with E.DSO in December and continuing its role as a strong voice for electricity DSOs in Europe.”

Zangrandi submitted his resignation in June after almost seven years as secretary general of E.DSO and leaves at the end of December after a one month handover period.

“On one side, I’ve come of age,” Zangrandi writes in a Linkedin message.

But on the other, in January 2024 he starts a “new, final career” in the executive search industry as a partner of the Brussels-based Hightech Partners, where his experience will be vital in helping to address the critical skills requirements in the energy sector.

Hightech Partners has played a unique role in helping to shape the European tech industry, he writes, saying the immense challenge appeared tempting and motivating.

“I shall rely on my experience and the last two decades spent accompanying the evolution of energy systems, from the early days of the first generation of smart meters to the introduction and management of digital twins and generative AI in this industry.

“I’m sure I will have a great time searching for the best among the talents produced by the last two managerial generations in this industry in Europe! I’ll stay around energy companies and continue advising a couple of highly innovative energy ventures spanning electricity interconnectors, molecules and solid-state technologies.”